I started writing a post but then changed the subject because of a goalkeeper being sold today.
Not Alisson to Liverpool. Not Courtois to Real Madrid. Not a big money move either.
Much outside the radius of either Bramall Lane or the KC Stadium this particular goalkeeper moving from one club to the other probably won’t make any major headlines. At Kingsmeadow or possibly Fir Park there may actually be more interest than at his new or previous club.
A few years ago George Long was being touted as a huge goalkeeping prospect having come through the academy at Shirecliffe. Fast forward to present day and he is in the process of rebuilding his career having played well for several clubs, but not necessarily his home town club.
It may just be that it wasn’t meant to happen for him at Bramall Lane but now, if his career continues on the upturn, it will definitely be elsewhere.
There have been a few ups and downs along the way. Successful loan moves, spells at Bramall Lane with varying success, playing under several different managers, being offered contracts, having contracts renegotiated…
…the list goes on.
The fact that he has just signed for one of his former managers, also a former keeper should not be overlooked. His loan spells at Motherwell and Wimbledon were successful, helping keep Motherwell in the Scottish Premier League and spending a full season with Wimbledon in League 1, impressing whilst there.
It has to be said that while at Bramall Lane he was playing in a poor side, with a less than solid back four, under various managers, none of which would help the confidence of a young keeper.
He’s still only 24.
The disappointing thing, apart from him not fulfilling his potential with United, is the treatment he received from his own fans when he was most in need of their support. The keeper is the most likely out of the squad to be a ‘confidence player’, especially when the team aren’t getting results in front of big crowds.
Although his new manager doesn’t have too many supporters at United after his 12 months in charge, the fact that he is signing Long shows that if not many others do, then Adkins has confidence in his ability and is offering him a way out.
As a member of the goalkeeper’s union, I will always look to defend any keeper criticised by the likes of Gary Neville or Lee Dixon, or the bloke in front of me on John Street.
Confidence is vital to any player but more so, a keeper.
One mistake can often lead to a goal or another mistake but nobody is going to perform better if they’re getting stick, especially from their own fans.
While George Long was at United, my lad was desperate for him to do well and it’s a bit of a lesson for him that things don’t always work out how you might have hoped.
Mentally, keepers have to be tougher than the rest but at the moment, for my lad, an arm round the shoulder or few carefully chosen words can give him a boost of confidence to go and give it his best.
If all else fails, keep the faith.
Keeper of the faith 